Multiple impressions of a single man

I was at a funeral this week of a man I knew only slightly but whose conversation made a big impression. He was remembered by all with affection but the eulogy was a recital of others’ (surprisingly banal) memories from which I did not recognise him at all. Although I know I cannot choose the memories of those left after me I can certainly choose the music, and have begun a playlist..

Not that the music I could clearly hear when reading this week’s stand-out winner – Antonia’s ‘On the other side’ – would suit everybody: Marilyn Manson, ‘In the valley of the shadow of death’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4eh9NTzn7I

Words for next week:  favour Monday sceptic

Entries by midnight Thursday 3rd August, words and winners  posted on Friday 4th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Dawns darker already ...

... reminding me how panic-stricken I’d get at the idea that summer had passed even before the schools broke up for the summer holidays. Last week’s words weren’t intended to panic but having found an opening line or two I found coming up with the rest of it, for a stand-alone, quite hard. Goodness knows how this week’s will work out, but I know I’m guaranteed some bright entertainment.

Hence the simplicity and smoothness of Rosie’s Pirate Princess #86 – ‘Going Home’ struck an especial chord and  gave her the top spot this week. As ever, thank you all for your contributions and comments.

Words for next week:  acute drench hymn

Entries by midnight Thursday 27th July, words and winners  posted on Friday 28th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Ill-kept promises

I promised myself I’d try and stick to having only one winner per week, but in a week where every entry could have been  a winner that promise had to be broken. Truly, if each of  last week’s offerings had been a prediction, handed over via a crystal ball, quality-wise they offered nothing but good fortune (and I confess, I don’t know from whence came ‘Prediction’)  

But, as I did predict, Patricia’s ‘As Luck Would Have It’ qualified from the first, and although all the others severely threatened, ultimately only Antonia’s untitled standalone was unignorable and I’ve no choice but to declare honours even for them and honourable mentions for the rest of you, right down to Rosie’s 20 minutes before deadline entry.  Thank you all.

Words for next week:  cover olive pugnacious

Entries by midnight Thursday 20th July, words and winners  posted on Friday 21st

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Niddering and insordescent

Two words for nastiness picked from Philip Howard’s ‘Lost Words’, in contrast to Irish crime writer Adrian McKinty, who gave me the beautiful perse.  I pass it to you as small and insufficient thanks for your comments on my pieces, and on each others’ - so very important a part of this place.

This week’s entries took me to many nasty places, down alleyways I’m incapable of imagining, never mind writing  for which I thank you, and from which I hope to learn. From a shortlist of four, and by a doubtless bloodstained whisker, John’s ‘Canine Intervention; emerged the winner.

Words for next week:  hare premonition whist

Entries by midnight Thursday 13th July, words and winners  posted on Friday 14th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.